Sep 7, 2008 12:39 pm US/Eastern
Giants 7, Pirates 6
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ―
Rich Aurilia hit one of three Giants home runs and San Francisco finally beat the Pittsburgh Pirates at home, 7-6 on Saturday night.
Scott McClain homered for the second time in four games and Nate Schierholtz hit his first career home run to help the Giants snap a seven-game losing streak at home against the Pirates. The Giants hadn't beaten the Pirates at AT&T Park since June 8, 2006.
Bengie Molina had three hits for San Francisco, which won for only the third time in 17 games against Pittsburgh.
McClain, the 36-year-old infielder who was called up from the minors on Monday, hit the first pitch he saw from reliever John Grabow for a two-run home run that capped San Francisco's five-run seventh inning.
It came four days after McClain became the oldest position player to hit his first major league home run since 1955.
Geno Espinelli (2-0) pitched a third of an inning for the win while closer Brian Wilson worked 1 2-3 innings for his 37th save in 40 chances despite giving up a run in the ninth. It was the longest save outing by Wilson since he got five outs against Milwaukee on Aug. 25, 2007.
Freddy Sanchez had four hits and two RBIs for Pittsburgh, which blew a 4-1 lead and ruined a strong outing by starter Paul Maholm.
Maholm allowed seven hits over six innings and struck out five but was shut out of the decision after manager John Russell made the call to the bullpen.
The Giants offense, which was stymied for most of the evening, came to life once Maholm left.
Reliever Denny Bautista (4-2) gave up four runs and three hits with a walk, retiring just two batters. Bautista left the game after allowing the tying run to score on a wild pitch followed by a single by Bengie Molina.
John Grabow came in, and McClain followed by hitting Grabow's first pitch for a towering two-run home run to left to give San Francisco a 6-4 lead.
Schierholtz, who played for the United States' bronze medal-winning team at the Beijing Olympics last month, hit a solo home run leading off the eighth. He is the 10th San Francisco rookie to hit his first major league home run this season.
San Francisco had lost eight of its previous 10 games.
Aurilia homered on a 1-0 pitch off Maholm leading off the fourth, ending a streak of 23 consecutive scoreless innings thrown by Pittsburgh pitchers at AT&T Park dating back to last season.
In a ceremony before the game the Giants unveiled a nine-foot bronze statue commemorating the career of Hall of Fame first baseman Orlando Cepeda. Cepeda is the fourth former Giants player to have a statue erected in his honor, joining Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal.
As part of the day-long tribute to Cepeda, San Francisco players wore jerseys bearing the "GIGANTES" logo.
Barry Bonds, baseball's home run king, attended the event but did not speak to the crowd.
Notes: Before the game the Giants purchased the contract of 3B
Conor Gillaspie from Single-A Salem-Keizer and outrighted OF Clay
Timpner to Triple-A Fresno. Gillaspie was the 37th player overall
selected in last June's draft.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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